May gets a one-on-one debate ...OK, it was seven minutes, but still

Any time, any place? Well, not exactly. But Sunday morning television offered a little one-on-one between Elizabeth May and Conservative rival Gary Lunn.

May used the outing on CTV’s Question Period to defend her campaign strategy and renew her fight for a spot in the leaders’ debate.

“It’s key for the Greens to be represented in the House,” she said when challenged on the time she has devoted to trying to unseat Lunn in the Vancouver Island riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands. “But we’re running a national campaign. I’ll be touring the country.”

Asked about her exclusion from the leaders’ debate later this month, May suggested she won’t stop until she is heard. “We think it’s important in the interest of democracy that all major parties that run across the country be represented.”

On Tuesday morning in Ottawa, May’s lawyer will make that case to the Federal Court of Appeal.

Asked for his judgment on the matter, Lunn said he supports the broadcast consortium. “I agree with my leader, the prime minister, that we respect the decision,” he said. “I understand Ms. May wants to challenge that and, you know, all the power to her.”

May said she will win the riding as a voice of conscience on a wide range of issues. “Voters want to see a change in political life,” she said. “They’d like to look at question period, they’d like to look at the House of Commons and be proud of what they see. Right now they feel disgusted.”

May suggested it’s because the Hill is run by spin doctors who tell MPs what to say and do.

Asked to weigh in, the Conservative candidate echoed the theme so far of Harper’s campaign. “This election is about two choices,” Lunn said. “It’s about the Conservatives — a prime minister who is very strong, very focused with a great record on the economy. Or that of the Liberals led by Mr. Ignatieff.”

This is May’s third run for federal office. In 2006, she challenged Conservative Peter MacKay in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova. Lunn has held Saanich-Gulf Island since 1997. The Greens do not have any seats in Parliament.

May received moral support for her cause when former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin added his voice to that of former Conservative prime minister Joe Clark urging broadcasters to extend her an invitation.